3511 research outputs found
Sort by
Establishing Routine Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation During Pregnancy in an Impoverished Guatemalan Community
Get PDFPregnant and breastfeeding women in impoverished settings face heightened nutritional demands, placing them and their children at increased risk of inadequate nutrition\u27s detrimental effects. Existing literature suggests that supplementing with multiple micronutrients (MMS) may offer superior protection against morbidity and mortality compared to traditional iron and folic acid (IFA) formulations. This research is set in the Land of Hope (LOH) clinic, located in Escuintla, Guatemala, a community served by the non-profit organization ER Abroad. The study aims to assess the feasibility of standardizing MMS provision to pregnant women at LOH, coupled with supplementary education on pregnancy and nutrition. The team distributed 84 bottles of MMS, sufficient for an entire pregnancy, to on-site community health workers, accompanied by education on supplementation, nutrition, hydration, and basic maternal and infant care. Post-implementation interviews with staff, conducted 1 month after the intervention, revealed the distribution of 58 MMS bottles to pregnant women with minimal challenges. This initiative contributes to standardizing prenatal supplementation practices at LOH and disseminating critical knowledge about the significance of nutrition during pregnancy. The project\u27s ultimate goal is to foster better birth outcomes through consistent MMS use and improved nutrition practices, thereby positively impacting the health of current and future generations in this underserved community
Implementation of Menstrual Cycle and Fertility Awareness Education for Community Healthcare Providers Serving Guatemalan Women
Get PDFResearch indicates that lack of reproductive knowledge, literacy & academic attrition, lack of educator support, poverty, religion, gender inequality, and decreased access to electronic devices contribute to high numbers of teenage pregnancies in Guatemala. Educating United States (U.S.) healthcare providers and Guatemalan volunteers/workers about fertility awareness using Standard Days Method® (SDM) and CycleBeads® has the potential to empower young Guatemalan women and encourage them to make independent, informed reproductive decisions. In December 2023, a quality improvement project was implemented in a Guatemalan rural health clinic. Likert scale questionnaires were utilized to assess knowledge and comfort levels regarding fertility awareness. Analysis of results focused on the views of U.S. healthcare providers who travel to Guatemala, along with locals who live and interact with young Guatemalan women needing further education. U.S. healthcare providers had minimal changes in scores between pre- and post-education questionnaires. Indigenous providers were unable to complete a post-education questionnaire due to time constraints during the global service trip. This lack of data prevented statistically significant conclusions regarding SDM and CycleBeads® use from being drawn. However, indigenous provider buy-in was evident via observation and social media pictures posted showing indigenous providers and other Guatemalan women teaching each other how to make CycleBeads®. The success of other research studies and the positive reception indicates teaching the SDM, specifically with CycleBeads®, is an educational trend that could continue being taught in other countries around the world
Increasing Oral Health in A Midwest Elementary School: Quality Improvement Project
Get PDFMarginalized communities experience barriers to accessing oral healthcare in the United States (US). Due to this, many children are left to use the emergency department (ED) for dental care. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to improve oral health services access in children at one suburban Midwest elementary school. The objectives of this project were: a) to improve the efficiency of students registering in Fall 2023 to access available oral health exam services, b) to increase the number of students who receive an oral health exam compared to the number in the previous school year. The DNP student worked with faculty and oral health program leaders as stakeholders to gather information about program implementation and evaluate the program based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) conceptual framework. As part of the Fall 2023 school registration, parents were able to electronically register their children for a school-based oral health examination and educational intervention through an established oral health provider. Evaluation found that the ability to electronically register for the oral health examination increased participation by 8% from the previous school year. Interviews with stakeholders found that school-based interventions are not feasible in low-capacity schools, as they are already overtaxed with policy-based educational obligations. As an impact on practice, oral health care should take place in clinical settings, and nurses should advocate for it to be provided free-of-charge at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in the US
Melting Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder/ Premenstrual Exacerbation Symptoms with Metalsmithing: A Group Process
Get PDFPeople experiencing Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder/Premenstrual Exacerbation, PMDD/PME, frequently live with debilitating symptoms that can arrest their daily life functions (Barker-Smith, 2020). Finding art to process and transform painful emotions that align with PMDD/PME hormonal depression/anxiety, may assist in supporting people to keep choosing life, especially when these art practices involve group settings and community artmaking (Phillips & Rosal, 1989; Robb, 2022). Metalsmithing requires significant cognitive awareness and promotes mind/body connections in its elemental art form (Carlson, 2015). This proposal outlines a group process involving 8-12 people who will receive a beginner’s metalsmithing, 12-week studio art program at Hyde Park Arts Center in Chicago, IL. The total cost (including the final film: 27,797. Video documentation and artist journals will collect data from group participants. A final film edited by the researcher will be shared with a broader online community, to inspire hope for people with PMDD/PME who may be surviving alone. This project desires to carry an impact in that the physical light of fire refines the metal and symbolically one’s heart/mind through human connection
Art Therapists’ Familiarity with and Beliefs about Twelve-Step Addiction Recovery Groups
Get PDFThis research proposed to study what art therapists know and believe about twelve-step addiction recovery groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Cocaine Anonymous (CA). The aim was to better understand the field’s familiarity with 12-step recovery, identify misconceptions about 12-step groups, and assess the comfortability of incorporating 12-step philosophy into clinical practice. Findings include that art therapists integrate 12-step into art making, are likely to refer clients to 12-step groups, and that higher familiarity with 12-step was associated with more positive perceptions and greater integration with clinical practice. The study participants also agreed that accessibility was one of the primary strengths of 12-step recovery and that clinicians’ personal involvement in 12-step strongly influences their clinical approaches. Increasing art therapists’ familiarity with the benefits, dangers, and nuances of 12-step groups will help them better guide clients through addiction recovery
Development of High-Fidelity Simulations for SRNAs: Airway Fire and Venous Air Embolism
Get PDFStudent registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) must swiftly recognize and treat high-risk, low-incidence complications in a high-stress environment. Most SRNAs do not experience high mortality or rare emergencies throughout their training. This project involves developing and implementing two high-fidelity simulations for airway fire and venous air embolism (VAE) to help SRNAs improve their skills in a safe learning environment. Objectives for this project include examining current evidenced-based literature to determine the efficacy of high-fidelity simulation on the SRNA’s knowledge and performance post-simulation, determining the incidence, pathophysiology, and treatments for airway fires and VAE, creating two high-fidelity simulation scenarios, and integrating the scenarios into the SRNAs’ curriculum. The project was conducted at a doctoral nurse anesthesia program in southern Illinois. The project aimed to prepare SRNAs for low-incidence, high-mortality perioperative complications
Screening for Suicide in Veterans with Cancer
Get PDFVeterans are at a higher suicide risk than the general population. Veterans with cancer are at a 47% higher risk for suicide. The Veterans Health Administration has an annual suicide screening requirement, but no requirement for more frequent assessment in this high-risk population. Clinical staff may also be hesitant due to fear and anxiety, serving as a barrier to screening. The objective of this project was to educate oncology clinical staff about risk factors for suicide in veterans with cancer, the use of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), referral processes, and local resources, and intended to increase the number of suicide screenings performed. The primary outcome measured was the number of suicide screenings performed after the education of staff. Data was reviewed for sixty days, both pre-education and post-education. No screenings (n=0) were performed by the educated staff during the post-education period. Education did not affect the number of screenings performed. The secondary finding was that mandatory annual suicide screening was not being performed consistently. Mandatory annual suicide screenings must be addressed by the facility before implementing additional screenings within the oncology department for veterans with cancer. The Cancer Care Navigation Team is a potential solution in performing these screens since the team is responsible for managing cancer cases with complex treatment plans and evaluating veterans for psychosocial issues, making referrals as appropriate
Integrating Psychotherapy in a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic
Get PDFMental illness is common in the United States, affecting millions of people. Although there are effective medications for mental illness, psychotherapy in addition to pharmacotherapy provides the best outcomes. This project aimed to improve providers\u27 psychotherapy screening and education of patients about psychotherapy utilization. A pre-implementation survey was conducted to evaluate psychotherapy screening and the barriers faced by providers to utilize psychotherapy screening. An education session was provided to the providers about the importance of psychotherapy screening and education. Data showed that the providers discussed psychotherapy with eight patients (40%) and educated four patients (20%) pre-implementation. Data showed that the providers discussed psychotherapy with twenty-one patients (84%) and educated twenty-one patients (84%) post-implementation. The outcomes showed that project implementation significantly increased psychotherapy utilization. Limitations to this DNP Project were identified. The DNP leader was present in the room with the provider and all the patients during implementation. There is a possibility that the provider discussed psychotherapy because of the presence of the DNP leader. Patient satisfaction was not measured. Even though the provider discussed psychotherapy, it is important to know if the patient was satisfied with the discussion or required more information
Introduction of Osteoporosis Screening within Orthopedic Clinics
Get PDFAbstract
Osteoporosis affects millions of Americans, causing life life-altering medical issues and an economic burden estimated to be over 17 billion dollars. Primary care providers are responsible for screening and early detection of osteoporosis; however, gaps have been identified. Orthopedic surgeons can screen during clinic visits to help close the gap. The purpose of this project was to introduce the usage of a screening tool in a large orthopedic clinic to improve detection. Participants were provided with education regarding osteoporosis and the screening tool with continued support throughout the 8-week study. Using the Simplified Calculated Osteoporosis Risk Estimation (SCORE) tool, patients meeting the criteria were screened, and referrals were placed if the patients were not already undergoing treatment. A post-study questionnaire was provided to the surgeons and clinic staff to evaluate the screening tool and the importance of screening in their clinic. Overall, 103 patients were screened, resulting in 22.3% referrals to primary care, bone density screening, or the osteoporosis clinic for further evaluation and treatment. Additionally, 67% of the high-risk patients screened refused a referral, 50% of patients screened were already undergoing treatment, and 23% were low-risk non-referrals. Survey results showed increased knowledge regarding screening, and all respondents reported they felt screening in the orthopedic clinic is essential. Limitations for this study included provider non-participation, providers out of the office, and convenience of the screening tool
